Effect of Textile Parameters on Microfiber Shedding …
9
Fig. 5 Sources and life cycle of microfibers from textiles and apparels [Authors own representation]
3.3 Disposal Stage
In the disposal stage, textile materials contribute to the microfiber pollution as
secondary microplastics which are generated as the result of the breakdown of larger
plastics into smaller fragments [4]. Fast fashion accelerates the fashion cycle and
leads to overconsumption and higher disposal. The rapid changes in the fashion trends
make the consumers buy new clothes frequently and their lesser price encourages the
consumers to dispose them easily without any second thought. The utilization of the
garments gets decreased as a result of fast fashion which imparts rapid changes in
fashion trends. The usage period of clothes gets reduced by 36% in the past 15 years
[8]. After consumption, the apparels are disposed and they end up in landfills. In that
stage, the microfiber shedding occurs due to the breakdown of textile materials [30].
The degradation and fragmentation of synthetic textiles can release microfibers into
the environment [36]. The synthetic textiles slowly degrade over long periods and
release microfibers and nanofibers. These microfibers and nanofibers can end up in
the atmosphere, water resources by leaching, or get deposited on the land sites. The
release of microfibers from the textiles on landfills could be the potential source of
microfibers in the terrestrial environment [37]. However, there is no detailed research
on the shedding behavior of textiles in their disposal stage due to degradation over a
longer period. The textile materials can shed microfibers in all the stages of their life
cycle due to varied mechanical and chemical actions to which they are subjected to.
9
Fig. 5 Sources and life cycle of microfibers from textiles and apparels [Authors own representation]
3.3 Disposal Stage
In the disposal stage, textile materials contribute to the microfiber pollution as
secondary microplastics which are generated as the result of the breakdown of larger
plastics into smaller fragments [4]. Fast fashion accelerates the fashion cycle and
leads to overconsumption and higher disposal. The rapid changes in the fashion trends
make the consumers buy new clothes frequently and their lesser price encourages the
consumers to dispose them easily without any second thought. The utilization of the
garments gets decreased as a result of fast fashion which imparts rapid changes in
fashion trends. The usage period of clothes gets reduced by 36% in the past 15 years
[8]. After consumption, the apparels are disposed and they end up in landfills. In that
stage, the microfiber shedding occurs due to the breakdown of textile materials [30].
The degradation and fragmentation of synthetic textiles can release microfibers into
the environment [36]. The synthetic textiles slowly degrade over long periods and
release microfibers and nanofibers. These microfibers and nanofibers can end up in
the atmosphere, water resources by leaching, or get deposited on the land sites. The
release of microfibers from the textiles on landfills could be the potential source of
microfibers in the terrestrial environment [37]. However, there is no detailed research
on the shedding behavior of textiles in their disposal stage due to degradation over a
longer period. The textile materials can shed microfibers in all the stages of their life
cycle due to varied mechanical and chemical actions to which they are subjected to.